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EPILOGUE: 2007 JAZZ APPLE CYCLING NORTH
AMERICAN TOUR
 After
two months on the road in Canada and the U.S., the Jazz Apple
Cycling team split in separate directions to pursue their respective
passions.
After a short break, New Zealand National Team riders
Alison Shanks and Rushlee Buchanan headed to Europe where they
would continue training and competing with New Zealand’s
best female cyclists, including former Jazz Apple riders Michelle
Hyland, Rosara Joseph and Carissa Wilkes.
Co-directors Susy Pride and her husband, Chris Drake,
returned to New Zealand where they are both finishing law degrees
at the University of Auckland. Malindi MacLean also returned home
to enter her second year in pre-law and psychology at the University
of Auckland.
“We've been on the road for a long time but
it's been great," said 18-year-old MacLean, who achieved
three podium finishes through the North American tour. "BC
Superweek has been fantastic. It's wonderful to see the support
you get here from the volunteers and the fans, to see all these
people turn out … and to see those big crowds in Gastown,
despite the weather ... It's pretty special. I hope we'll be back
again next year."
Sarah Murdoch also returned to her home base in
Auckland where she is a theatre nurse at the Auckland hospital.
Sarah also formulates spin (RPM) routines for the global marketing
arm of Les Mills Gyms, teaching several classes with the gym there.
I just wanted to say that your cycling team
was great at Canadian Superweek in Vancouver [B.C.]. They raced
with class and were exceptionally competitive in every event.
They were excellent ambassadors for the sport and your company.
I hope they will continue to race in our events.
– Dan
Proulx, Canadian Cycling Coach
TOUR de DELTA: July 20-22
STAGE 1: MACLEAN AND SHANKS CLAIM HILL CLIMB PODIUM HONORS
– Team report
by Co-director Susy Pride
 Jazz
Apple's Malindi MacLean and Alison Shanks launched stunning performances
to win and place third consecutively in the brutish Hill Climb
in Stage 1 of the Tour de Delta July 20.
Challenged with yet another soggy evening with extremely
slippery pavement, MacLean faced the vertically inclined Leah
Goldstein in a face-off, straight up the 750m (820 yard) wall.
As the fastest seeded riders, the pair raced in a side-by-side
time-trial with MacLean smoking out of the starting gate, leaving
Goldstein swirling in her wake. MacLean blazed up the hill, winning
by a convincing ten-second margin, while fellow Jazz Apple teammate
Shanks charged in for third place—less than a second behind
Giant team member, Leigh Goldem.
"I’ve only been road-racing for six months,
so it feels great to win, especially because now I can use my
real name," laughed the 18-year-old former Junior World track
sprinter. "Malindi is what I've been called all my life,
but my teammates said I would have to be called ‘Malindills’
until I won a race. It gave me a little extra motivation."
Rushlee Buchanan headed to the line with fresh legs,
but her chances were dashed when she broke a pedal but a nano-second
before the start. Buchanan would be allowed to start Stage 2 the
next day, alongside teammate Sarah Murdoch who would put in a
solid performance.
View
official results
STAGE 2: BUCHANAN TAKES FIRST IN DELTA
CRIT.
– As reported by CyclingNews.com
 It
took the most experienced bike handlers to deal with the elements
as the increasingly heavy rain slowly turned Stage 2 of the Tour
de Delta into the 'Tour de Misery.'
The women's field came off the line in Tsawwassen
riding cautiously until the weather and slick streets thinned
out the field. The first serious break of the night occurred with
11 laps to go. Jazz Apple’s Rushlee Buchanan, Tour de White
Rock criterium champion, led a three-rider breakaway.
"I was really nervous out there tonight because
I crashed three times in the rain in Gastown," said Buchanan.
"It was a little bit edgy, but I figured if I could stay
in the top 10 I'd be alright because they're all safe, smart riders."
In the final five laps the breakaway had doubled
to six, with the rest of the survivors only 10 seconds back. With
two laps remaining the breakaway had been reeled in and the tightest
race in Tour de Delta history would come down to the final sprint.
The slippery conditions forced everyone to cautiously jockey for
position around the final turn.
"I knew I couldn't let Leah [Goldstein] create
a gap, so I stayed on her wheel heading into that last corner,"
said 19 year-old Buchanan. "I wasn't too worried about anyone
else and I knew if I stayed with Leah I'd be able to sprint away
from her."
 Buchanan
emerged at the head of the pack and lived up to her boast, sprinting
away with her second BC Superweek title. She raised her arms in
victory crossing the finish line, while Calgary's Jenny Trew won
a furious fight for second place, out-sprinting her Team Giant
teammate Lisa Howard.
"I've never considered myself a great sprinter,"
revealed Buchanan, "But we've been here [in North America]
for two months racing crit after crit, so you do get faster. I
also get pumped up by crowds like this. It's awesome here with
all these people turning out on a [rainy] night like this.”
It was the second straight win in Delta, B.C. for
the Jazz Apple Cycling team. Malindi MacLean was not far behind,
finishing sixth overall in the criterium stage.
View
official results
STAGE 3: BUCHANAN
POWERS ALONG RAIN-SLICKED STREETS TO PLACE THIRD IN DELTA ROAD
RACE
– As reported by CyclingNews.com
 A
waterlogged weekend in the Tour de Delta ended with a rare and
brief guest appearance by the Sun, but the brightest yellow sight
all weekend proved to be the Symmetrics jerseys.
The women's 85-km, 11-lap road race turned into
a re-run of the Tour de White Rock road race July 22. Symmetrics'
veteran Leah Goldstein broke away early and turned it into a one-woman
time trial, wearing out the younger riders who tried to stay with
her. Her tactics produced her first ever win in White Rock and
almost succeeded again in Delta, B.C. July 22.
When Goldstein powered it into overdrive and left
the peleton behind, two riders went with her: Rushlee Buchanan
and Leah Guloien. Buchanan was the first to fade when the two
Leahs used their superior climbing skills to crack Buchanan and
leave her behind with three laps to go. Guloien then pushed slightly
ahead of Goldstein to take a single second victory.
Buchanan powered on bravely for a third place finish,
one minute back from the leaders, with teammate Malindi MacLean
finishing at the front of the peleton in eighth position.
View
official results
MacLEAN CLAIMS SILVER AT GIRO di BURNABY
IN PHOTO FINISH
 There
was no time to tarry before the Giro di Burnaby the day following
the Gastown event (July 19), as the Jazz Apple Cycling team patched
scuffs and bruises and reared for their next challenge around
the streets of the usually quiet Vancouver suburb of Burnaby.
The riders faced more pleasing conditions with dry
streets, yet the strong zephyrs buffeted the course and became
a major component in the race's proceedings.
The ‘Giant’ team, racing with nine riders,
immediately went on the attack, and Sarah Murdoch rode a gutsy
race to be in on the major moves. Buchanan was finding her legs
after her spills the day before and zipped off the front in some
dangerous moves, but was heavily marked by Shelley Old's, the
strong Expresscopy team and the Symmetrics squad.
It was the New Zealand National Champion, Alison
Shanks, who darted off the front, and despite being heavily marked
split the field with her strength around 20 laps of the 1.85km
(1.15 mile) circuit.
With 1.5 laps remaining, the Jazz Apples assembled
at the front and executed a brilliant lead-out that strung the
field out over the last 2.5km (1.6 miles). Shanks effectively
detonated the field, and only a diminished group was left to contest
the line honors.
With 200m (219 yards) remaining, MacLean slipped
out of Buchanan's slipstream. Gaining an initially clear jump,
the youngster burst forward on her Genius toward the line with
only Grain and Old's in lunging view.
In another photo finish, it was Shelley Olds of
Proman/Paradigm who just nipped MacLean by the tip of a tire.
Nonetheless, the podium was yet another successful venture for
the Jazz Apples who would be gunning for more at the Tour de Delta
beginning the very next day, July 20-22.
View
official results
RAIN CHALLENGES THE FIELD
AT TOUR de GASTOWN
– Team report by Co-director Susy
Pride
 Jazz
Apple's Malindi MacLean battled menacing conditions over the past
two nights yet prevailed with two scintillating sprints that left
the crowds holding their breaths, and yet another podium finish
for the young, rising team.
In the Tour de Gastown event July 18 in the heart
of Vancouver's historic Gastown district, the team was fraught
with misadventure. Cursed with the "worst conditions"
(event organiser, Jonothon Wornell) in the history of the event,
crash after crash evolved over 30 laps of the 1.3km (0.8 mile)
technical criterium course. Sliding out three times on the slick
bricks, the on-form Rushlee Buchanan had to retire but only with
minor injuries.
 Alison
Shanks braved the tough conditions, forging a path for teammate
Malindi MacLean, but the duo could not make a decisive break from
the field.
Despite MacLean’s having to close gaps and
accelerate past spills and mishaps during the entire shifty affair,
the 18-year-old managed to ride herself into excellent position
and deliver a dramatic nail-biting sprint to the finish line,
which forced the judges and race officials into long, careful
deliberation as to who finished third in the end.
Finally, MacLean was crowned fourth place, in an
ever-so-close finish behind the on-form Shelley Olds (Proman/Paradigm),
and ahead of the fast-finishing Canadian Commonwealth Games road
race competitor, Gina Grain (Expresscopy.com).
View
official results
JAZZ APPLES ‘ROCK’ BC’s
TOUR de WHITE ROCK
– Team report by Co-director Susy
Pride
 The
Jazz Apple Cycling team headed north of the U.S. border July 11
to lay siege on B.C. Superweek – the richest cycling event
in the century old history of Canadian road racing. Superweek
kicked off with the Tour de White Rock July 13 – 15.
STAGE 1: MACLEAN ROCKETS
UP THE HILL CLIMB
 The
first stage of the B.C. tour served a brutal hill climb straight
up a 700m (.43 miles) wall, averaging 16% grade. Jazz Apple's
Malindi MacLean proved herself up to the challenge, as she wheeled
out her best climbing legs to finish fourth.
MacLean, best known for her lightening quick gallop,
demonstrated her versatility by progressing through the first
time trial round, which seeded the fastest to slowest times over
the climb, into the final five riders. These five went to a mass-start
showdown over the vein-bursting wall, with MacLean wrestling it
out as one of the fastest climbers of the day. She put forth a
brave effort, and finished fourth in her first ever attempt at
such an event, and is now informally crowned, 'Tenzing' on the
team, after the famous Sherpa mountaineer who was among the first
to summit Mt. Everest. Sarah Murdoch was the team’s next-strongest
performer, finishing in 10th position overall.
View
official results
STAGE 2: BUCHANAN RIPS UP CRITERIUM COURSE
 After
the morning hill-climb on July 14, the Jazz Apple Cycling team
emerged, guns blazing, for stage two, a 30km (19 mile) circuit
race, 30 laps around a 1km (.62 miles) course. Rushlee Buchanan
burned rubber to the finish line in a stunning solo victory.
The 19-year-old capitalized on a flurry of early
attacks, which included a brilliantly timed counter-attack by
Alison Shanks to solo away from the field 15km (9.3 miles) from
the finish. Despite suffering a bad cold, Shanks' seven-lap effort
off the front in a small group allowed Buchanan to cock her pistol
for a devastating attack. Meanwhile, teammates Malindi MacLean
and Sarah Murdoch defensively quashed any threatening moves, which
effectively discouraged any would-be threats to Buchanan's lead.
As Buchanan crossed the finish line, she raised
her arms in victory, also collecting a handy stash of cash primes
for her efforts. MacLean finished just out of the medals in fifth
position.
The team then rested-up for the last stage –
a road race against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and the
sharp inclines of the White Rock surrounds.
View
official results
STAGE 3: BUCHANAN WINS SILVER IN ROAD
RACE
 Following
Saturday's stage win in the Tour de White Rock, Rushlee Buchanan’s
star continued to shine. She finished a strong second in the hilly
final 82km (51 mile) road race July 15.
Snaking it's way past the leisurely cafe's and restaurants
of White Rock's seaside locale, the road course abruptly crushed
any visions of relaxation with a mountain sprint in the first
5km (3 miles), followed by one every 10km (6.2 miles) over the
entire affair. The initial mountain sprint was only one of the
inclines to be negotiated, as abrupt incline after incline quickly
torched the field until it was shredded into thin ribbons.
Jazz Apple's Malindi MacLean dashed from the group
on the first ‘Queen of the Mountain’ sprint to nab
the $100 cash prime before Sarah Murdoch lead Buchanan into the
second climb, which initiated the day's crucial breakaway.
Team Symmetric’s star Leah Goldstein, a former
world kickboxing champion and cycling Olympian, turned the screws
on the climb to splinter the peleton. The pace never relented,
and only five riders, including Buchanan, could dose the power
required to stay with Goldstein’s impressive display.
 Eventually,
Goldstein broke the group, and only Buchanan and Team Express
Copy's Erinne Willock could salvage a chase. Though fighting bravely,
they could not eclipse the time gap. Buchanan then vested her
final dose of energy in an almighty attack on the last climb.
Willock could not respond. Time trialing to the finish, the 19-year-old
Buchanan secured yet another impressive podium finish, this time
for silver. Teammate MacLean was not far behind, finishing seventh
overall. Shanks, Murdoch and Pryde crossed the line together just
five minutes later.
The Jazz Apple team enjoyed two days respite before
Vancouver's historic and hugely popular, Tour de Gastown race
the evening of July 18 in the heart of downtown Vancouver, B.C.
View
official results
JAZZ APPLES RECOVER FROM MORNING SLOG
AT COUGAR MOUNTAIN TO BRING HOME THE GOLD IN SAN RAFAEL
– Team report by Co-director Susy
Pride
 July
7 saw the Jazz Apple Cycling team doing double duty with a morning
race in stage one of the Cougar Mountain Classic in Sonoma, Calif.
followed by the Carerra de San Rafael that same evening.
After a tough slog along the windswept Cougar Mountain
course, Malindi MacLean was rewarded with a fourth place finish.
MacLean made a huge effort for positioning but just missed the
podium, unfortunately. San Rafael native Anna Lang placed first.
The team later regrouped for more racing at San Rafael.
View
official results
The team’s patience paid off, as after a flawless
race from the entire Jazz Apple squad, Rushlee Buchanan delivered
a beautiful victory in the Carerra de San Rafael.
With a stacked field of 70 riders, including nine
from the strong PROMAN/Paradigm team, the Jazz Apple contingent
of four took control with Alison Shanks flooring the massive crowd
and commentators with an incredible show of strength. After the
initial attacks that were covered by Buchanan and MacLean, Shanks
bolted from the group and stayed away for more than half the race,
and was finally reeled in with just nine laps remaining.
Shanks commented, "I smashed my records of
power output tonight and hit a new personal best." (And
that was after racing that morning!)
MacLean, who is in incredible sprinting form, also
rode an excellent race—maintaining attentive composure at
the head of the group while waiting for Buchanan's lead out to
the line. Meanwhile, despite suffering a cold over the previous
week, Buchanan rode impressively to patrol the front for the entire
hour-long event.
Then, within the last three laps, the Jazz
Apples assembled near the front. At two to go, MacLean glued herself
to Buchanan's wheel for the lead-out. The 19-year-old Buchanan
drove MacLean toward the finish, stringing the field out into
the final turn.
 But
a near disaster struck. A rider tried to dive under MacLean in
the final swing for home, forcing her into the barriers. MacLean
shouted to Buchanan, "Go!", and Buchanan surged ahead
and delivered a beautiful victory ahead of the swarming field.
MacLean (somehow) managed to stay upright and crossed the line
in 15th place.
After Buchanan fended off the throngs of admiring
fans, the team managed a quick dinner, toasting to a brilliant
race.
The Jazz Apple Cycling team competed again July
8 in stage two of the Cougar Mountain Classic before heading back
to its home base with their host family, the Linders, in Monterey,
California for a few days of training.
View
official results
JAZZ APPLES TRAIN AT HOME BASE IN MONTEREY
– Team report by Jazz Apple rider
Malindi MacLean
 When
not traversing the country for various races, the Jazz Apple Cycling
team returns to home base in Monterey, Calif. Our team training
rides navigate the surrounding mountains and valleys, similar
to John Steinbeck’s description in “Pastures of
Heaven,” though no forbidden apples for us! The team
van is readily at hand with cold water and plenty of Jazz™
apples to keep us going through the hot, dry environs.
Our training sessions range from one-hour recovery
rides to five hours of hard laboring at the hands of the California
desert terrain. The combination of mountains, ocean coast and
windy valleys offer the perfect arena for cycling training, and
the incentive of freshly baked Jazz™ apple muffins keeps
us working hard for over 100 miles.
See the recipe below
Out on the road putting in the hard yards
is a team enterprise. Mechanic Paul Larkin ensures the bikes are
always running crisp, while manager Chris Drake and coach Susy
Pryde oversee and coordinate the training sessions to have the
athletes well recovered and fresh for the weekend’s racing.
Next, we head to Sonoma for the Cougar Mountain Classic, and despite
a disappointing lack of mountain lions, we are definitely ready
to tackle the mountains—perhaps the more challenging of
the two! Keep watching for more results, as the hard training
pays off.
RUSHLEE'S
JAZZ MUFFINS
Super easy and super tasty
 Ingredients:
2 cups of all bran cereal
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
A few sprinkles of cinnamon and allspice
3 grated fresh ENZA Jazz™ apples
2/3 can low-fat condensed milk
1 egg
½ cup warm water
2 Tablespoon honey
Directions:
Combine all the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients
in another, then mix the two together, but do not over-mix. Pour
batter into lined or greased muffin cups and bake for 15-20 minutes
at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
MACLEAN TAKES SECOND AT MANHATTAN BEACH
– Team report by Co-director Susy Pride
 Jazz
Apple Cycling Team member, Malindi Maclean delivered the best
result of her rookie road racing career with a stunning second
place in the 45th edition of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix July
1.
Not two blocks from the famed Baywatch set of the
Manhattan Beach shores, the Jazz Apple team went to work from
the start, with Alison Shanks going solo on the rolling 2km circuit.
Shanks earned points and valuable seconds lap-by-lap on the 7
percent incline, but was eventually reeled in by a driven Cheerwine
team chase.
Jazz Apple teammate Buchanan counter-attacked with
timely perfection but was hotly pursued, and her attempt was eventually
foiled. Meanwhile, Maclean had sprinter's duties and maintained
flawless positioning, continually attentive within reach of the
front of the race.
As the zephyrs from the Pacific Ocean gained force,
the pack formed a long fishtailing train as Shanks launched yet
another blow with five laps remaining. Once again, a dogged chase
by the ever-present Cheerwine team captured Shanks and set up
their lead out train with two laps remaining. With the deft tenacity
of a sea anemone, Maclean battled and stuck to the front with
the spirit of a true sprinter, and launched from the rear of the
lead-out train to cross the line a thrilling close second to the
ever-perennial, Laura Van Gilder of Cheerwine.
 A
delighted Maclean noted, "I had one of those days where it
felt like I didn't have to put any pressure on the pedals, and
I could move and accelerate effortlessly. When I knew the job
was down to me to deliver in the sprint, the closing kilometers
became a blur in the haggle and hunt for the line. I am definitely
hungrier than ever for more."
The team treks North to the Cougar Mountain Classic
in Sonoma, Calif. July 7-8.
View
official results
BUCHANAN DONS ‘MOST AGGRESSIVE RIDER’
JERSEY
AT NATURE VALLEY
– Race report by Jazz Apple Rider
Rushlee Buchanan
 The
six-stage Nature Valley Grand Prix launched June 20 with a high-speed
Criterium through downtown St. Paul, Minn., which challenged the
developing riders and schooled the Jazz Apple team in valuable
tactics. Results were mixed, as the following stages proved similarly
demanding. Our riders tackled a 65-mile (110km) road race through
Cannon Falls June 21, and an individual time trial soon followed
by a second criterium – both raced June 22.
Stage 5 saw the Jazz Apple team ride through 87
miles (120km) of flat Minnesota countryside before confronting
the last 12.5 miles (20km) on an extreme loop, circling the finishing
town four times over a 22 percent uphill climb. While World Champion
and race leader Kristin Armstrong of Team Lipton dominated the
field, our own Rushlee Buchanan proved her metal to earn the ‘Most
Aggressive Rider’ jersey.
Observing some uncertainty in the pack near the
start, Buchanan seized the opportunity to launch herself off the
front in a spectacular solo break.
 “The
roads were long and expansive, not the best roads for a breakaway
to go,” said Buchanan. “Nevertheless I created an
opportunity, throwing myself onto the opposite side of the road
and passing riders who were dangling in front. For the next 40
miles I was the lone wolf off the front of the peloton, capturing
valuable ‘Queen of the Mountains’ and sprinters points
while riding my way through the dry surroundings of small towns
and long, straight, dusty roads, extending my gap from the pack
to 3 minutes.
“Knowing that Team Lipton would be keeping
tabs on my expedition, and with my legs needing increasing encouragement
to keep turning over, they drew closer and eventually reeled me
in as we neared civilization and the final town. Armstrong and
her team drove the peloton hard, engulfing me as we entered the
punishing final circuit.”
Buchanan’s day ended at the back of the strung-out
field, however, her 40-mile break was not unnoticed by Nature
Valley officials, winning her the ‘Most Aggressive Rider’
jersey for Stage 5.
Stage 6 proved to be a race of attrition with temperatures
hovering near 95 degrees F. This is the site of the Stillwater
Criterium where Jazz Apple’s Sarah Ulmer dominated in 2006.
The circuit includes one hill and one ‘wall’ with
the finish line perched on top of the infamous Chilkoot Hill (18
percent grade). Spent from a week of hard racing, the Jazz Apple
team exhausted the last of their reserves.
“Alison and I were pleased to see the number
board hit zero!” 19-year-old Buchanan said.
View
official results
JAZZ APPLE TEAM MEETS MINNESOTA HOSPITALITY
– Team report by Co-director Susy
Pride
 After
a week and a half of racing and training in the serene environs
of Northern California, the Jazz Apple Cycling Team shuttled across
to central time zone to Minnesota for the international Nature
Valley Grand Prix, a 5-day stage race. This race provides the
team with an excellent opportunity to realize other responsibilities
around just racing.
The team has settled in with the same host family
from 2006, Sharon and Dave Garber. It is a privilege as well as
a brilliant opportunity for the team to have a real taste of true
Minnesota hospitality. Their passion for yachting spawned feverous
conversation with the girls, especially with the topical Americas
Cup finale fast approaching.
This afternoon we are on our way to the Canon Falls
Library to assist and do a question and answer session for children
receiving tutoring in reading. It is a great way to provide a
form of appreciation for a whole community. The kids even indulged
us in our passion by staging a bike race.
After the reading program this afternoon we will
get suited up for a 65-mile road race that starts at 5:20 pm.
JAZZ APPLE TEAM FINISHES WELL AT NEVADA CITY
CRITERIUM
 The
Jazz Apple Cycling team traveled to Nevada City for a demanding
criterium race through the narrow, winding streets and hilly terrain
of the historic town. The 47th annual race fell on Father’s
Day this year, June 17.
One lap of the course runs just over a mile and
includes a climb of more than 120 feet. Going downhill, pro cyclists
can reach speeds of more than 50 miles an hour. To picture the
experience of riding the course, imagine running up 12 flights
of stairs every three minutes, 18 times in a row.
Shelley Olds, of the PROMAN Women's Cycling Team,
dropped the hammer on the rest of the field and motored away in
an impressive win. Youngster Rushlee Buchanan of the Jazz Apple
team secured third place and made her mark on the Nevada City
course while Malindi MacLean and Susy Pride finished in the middle
of the pack.
View
official results
KEISANOWSKI SISTERS FORTIFY THE JAZZ APPLES
IN PHILADELPHIA
– Team report by Mechanic Paul Larkin
 When
the Jazz Apple Cycling team raced at the Commerce Bank Liberty
Classic on June 10, they were joined by two additional pro cyclists
from their New Zealand homeland. Joanne and her sister Michelle
Keisanowski raced alongside their New Zealand National Teammates
and fortified the squad for the 56-mile (90km) race, which required
them to scale the mammoth Manayunk Wall (17% grade) a total of
four times. The racers lined up to start at 9:00 a.m. under cool,
overcast skies.
The race began fast, and despite huge efforts from
Webcor to launch a rider on the third of four laps, the end would
again come down to a bunch sprint. Lauren Webb suffered after
moving to the front of the race early, while an improving Malindi
MacLean rode strongly again, in a sign of good things to come.
Rushlee Buchanan worked tirelessly with Michelle Keisanowski to
maintain a good position in a ferocious bunch, providing reassuring
jerseys should Joanne need them.
The final lap was again kept fast by the sprinters’
teams, ensuring no late breaks escaped. Despite this, Jo charged
through the bunch to finish fourth, passing riders strongly over
the final yards. Rushlee came in 19th, another indication of her
strength, with Michelle on the same time, within the bunch.
Perhaps the most significant evidence of the team’s
success thus far can be seen in the huge level of support we enjoy
here in the U.S. Teams, riders and spectators can be heard calling
“Jazz Apple!” at every race, while the product is
perhaps the most popular of any sponsor in the bunch when the
teams are off their bikes.
So, it’s with a focused team of athletes gaining
form and cohesion that we look forward to Nevada City and the
Nature Valley Stage Race, a grueling six stages over five days
– but not before several days of quality training just outside
San Francisco.
View
official results
JAZZ APPLE CYCLISTS SHOW PROMISE AT READING
CLASSIC
– Team report by Mechanic Paul Larkin
 The
Jazz Apple Cycling team went head-to-head with some of the world’s
best cyclists when they raced through the second stage of the
Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling on June 7.
The women’s course was 15 times around 1.7-mile
loop featuring a brutal false flat finishing straight, and providing
little time if any for recovery. After spending some time in Kutztown,
near the Lehigh Velodrome, the girls had ridden the DVT out of
their legs in rolling farmland populated by Amish horse carts
and Mennonite settlements, close to Reading and Lancaster.
On an aggressive course with such a high-quality
field, positioning was going to be crucial, and from the starting
gun Rushlee Buchanan moved up. Malindi MacLean put her track elbows
to good use with Lauren Webb sitting a little further back. The
day’s suicide break came courtesy of New Zealander Robin
Farina, who will be known to some after racing the Wellington
World Cup in 2006. With the bait out it wasn’t long before
the bunch reeled Farina in, and a select bunch rolled off the
front with the Jazz Apples’ Buchanan in the mix, riding
a tactically excellent wheel in the break.
But, the major teams Cheerwine, T-Mobile and others
dictated that the day would be decided in a field sprint, keeping
the pace in the closing laps high, and recovery nil. The pace
went up; the bunch strung out, and Buchanan rode to the front,
showing promising strength, and tactical instinct – her
strong 12th place finish amidst trade team sprint trains landed
her in the money.
After coffees at our home base in Kutztown even
the staff got a chance to ride through the pristine Pennsylvania
summertime countryside.
See
video
View
official results
JAZZ APPLES DEBUT AT LANCASTER CLASSIC
 The
2007 Jazz Apple Cycling Team made its North American debut June
3 at the Lancaster Classic – the first leg of the Commerce
Bank Triple Crown of Cycling.
After some training rides through the Pennsylvania
countryside, our ladies joined other world-class athletes in the
pro women’s 25-mile flat, four-corner criterium through
the historic city of Lancaster. The course is described as ‘deceptively
tricky,’ as it cuts through town with many sudden, short
hills and tight turns.
Our own Rushlee Buchanan put in a solid performance
and finished 17th in the end, also as the top finishing New Zealand
competitor. Ina-yoko Teutenberg of T-mobile Pro Cycling and Laura
Van Gilder of Cheerwine finished first and second, respectively.
An expo was also held in the main staging area throughout
the day where fresh samples of ENZA Jazz™ apples were passed
out to the crowd of hungry spectators.
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official results
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